More graft-panel powers mooted

Over the past week, the CDC has been deliberating the roles of independent agencies, specifically those of the NACC and the State Audit Commission. The aim of the scrutiny was to give NACC the authority to investigate those found to be unusually wealthy or of malfeasance among holders of posts in political and independent agencies as well as that of state officials, the spokesman said. 

He elaborated that the NACC should be given the authority to examine the assets of these officials and that details of this would be specified in relevant organic laws. 

If the NACC deems it necessary to take criminal action in certain cases, it should be able to take them to the Office of the Attorney General, which will forward them for prosecution at the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Person holding Political Position, Amorn explained. 

Apart from that, the drafters also agreed that they should set out principles for finance and monetary discipline, he revealed, adding that independent agencies should also be more integrated. For instance, when the NACC finds such violations, it should call on the audit commission to launch a parallel scrutiny, Amorn said.

The drafters also deliberated on the audit commission’s term as well as its composition, and initially agreed that the commission be comprised of experts in relevant fields such as general auditing, accounting and finance. Their term has yet to be finalised, Amorn said.